Cheltenham Fancy joins Pearl Bloodstock

David Redvers, racing manager to Sheikh Fahad, said of the gelding: "He's a horse that fits the profile for the race, and he has been very well trained by Rose Loxton. Bryony Frost [daughter of former leading jockey Jimmy] has ridden him with great confidence this season and she will be in the saddle on Friday."

The eight-year-old is trained in Somerset by Loxton, a senior member of staff at the yard of champion British jumps trainer Paul Nicholls. Current Event becomes the second horse to race at The Festival for Pearl Bloodstock, following Vulcanite (a runner at the meeting today for current owner J P McManus), who was unplaced in the 2012 Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

When trained by Nicholls Current Event won six times and achieved a rating high of 139, but joined Loxton at the start of the 2013/14 point-to-point season to give Nicholls' daughter Megan experience in her first season of race riding.

After falling first time out the pair proved unbeatable, winning five races as Megan powered to the British champion women novice riders' point-to-point title.

When Megan opted to concentrate on Flat racing, Frost became Current Event's rider, and the pair have continued in winning form, landing two ladies' open point-to-points and gaining an easy hunters' chase victory over three miles and three furlongs at Musselburgh last month.